Pablo Sandoval smiles in the dugout after almost hitting a two-run homerun in the sixth inning. The San Francisco Giants played the Oakland Athletics in a pre-season game at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, March 27, 2014.

Pablo Sandoval, right, speaks with Buster Posey in the dugout in the bottom of the seventh inniing. The San Francisco Giants played the Oakland Athletics in a pre-season game at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, March 27, 2014.

Pablo Sandoval reacts to a ball he hit deep to triples alley being caught by Josh Reddick in the sixth inning. The San Francisco Giants played the Oakland Athletics in a pre-season game at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, March 27, 2014.

Pablo Sandoval watches the flight of a ball he hit to deep right center field that was caught near the wall by Josh Reddick in the sixth inning. The San Francisco Giants played the Oakland Athletics in a pre-season game at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, March 27, 2014.

Tim Hudson pitches in the sixth inning, and gave up four runs in the game. The San Francisco Giants played the Oakland Athletics in a pre-season game at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, March 27, 2014.

The Giants settled back into their home clubhouse on Thursday. Tim Hudson was looking comfortable in the corner where Barry Zito spent many years. Pablo Sandoval, wearing gold headphones, was taking up less space than he did a few months ago. Buster Posey - on his 27th birthday - was, as usual, setting a businesslike tone.

A big season gets under way for the Giants on Monday. After winning two World Championships in three years, last year was a humbling comedown. A third-place finish, subpar years all around and no single devastating event - like the Posey injury in 2011 - on which to blame the collective failure.

The Giants expect more. They are different than their cross-bay opponent who they played at AT&T Park on Thursday, the first game in a Bay Bridge series that bridges spring in Arizona and the regular season next week. The A's are happy-go-lucky. They've exceeded expectations the past two years and even as reigning division champions, there's little pressure on them.

To understand why the Giants are different you need look no further than this week's Forbes report on the business of baseball. According to Forbes, the Giants are the fifth-richest team in the majors, worth a billion dollars. Their principle owner Charles Johnson is the biggest dog in a billionaire's club: He's the richest owner in baseball, worth $7.5 billion. The Giants' value, despite that third-place finish, was up 27 percent last year. They are printing money, with revenues of $316 million last season.

What do all those numbers add up to?

This: The pressure is on the Giants to win.

And while there are a lot of questions about the rotation, second base and team depth, the Giants' fate may rest in the hands of their No. 4 and No. 5 hitters. Both Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval need to have big years, for the team and for themselves.

A year ago this weekend, Posey signed a nine-year contract, worth $167 million. That's a heavy burden. Sandoval, a free agent at the end of this season, is trying to prove that he, too, is worth a lucrative long-term deal.

Posey won't concede to putting more emphasis on this coming season because of last year's failures.

"We just want to win," he said. "That's our mind-set. I don't know if there's any more anxiousness, if that's a word."

But back in February, the 2012 N.L. Most Valuable Player and former Rookie of the Year conceded that the lack of success in 2013 was unpleasant.

"There's a bad taste in a lot of guys' mouths," Posey said the weekend of Fanfest.

Posey slumped in the second half last season and while he has refused to use fatigue as an excuse, his manager - a former catcher - could see it.

Posey added 10 pounds of muscle in the offseason, with the goal of strengthening his lower body and improving his stamina. He hit .419 in Arizona. He also beefed up his acting repertoire.

Coming on the heels of his amusing turns in both the Giants' 2013 "Animal House" ad and a Playstation commercial, Posey digs deep in the Giants "Mi Amor" telenovela-style commercial. Wearing a paisley-print silk shirt, Posey listens to Sergio Romo wax poetic in Spanish and weeps at the beauty of the closer's words, responding with observations of his own. In Spanish.

Posey speaks Spanish?

"Not at all," he said. "That made it even funnier."

Romo and Posey struggled to get through the shooting without laughing.

Sandoval would look decent in a paisley silk shirt himself these days. He's slim and trim and has said all the right things about taking more responsibility and being more serious about his job. Of course, the subtext is that he wants to be paid. Last week, we learned that Sandoval's agent turned down an opening offer of three-years for $40 million, and is looking for five years for $90 million.

Consider these merely opening salvos in the negotiations. Also consider that both Sandoval's agent and all Giants fans have taken note of the Forbes report and will not be pleased if the Giants let Sandoval walk. There's no clear replacement for him in the pipeline or on the open market. And why the heck have Giants fans been buying $20 Panda hats by the truckload anyway?

While Sandoval's contract situation might be stressful for the Giants' front office, it should be a delight for Bruce Bochy. Sandoval will be engaged and motivated to produce. Bochy said Thursday he had already talked to Sandoval about the contract situation and that the third baseman had assured him he is going to focus on baseball and not be distracted.

Sandoval has something to prove to earn his big contract. Posey has something to prove because he already earned his big contract.